‘Leaders must be able to take criticism, acknowledge mistakes’: PM Lee

[masterwanker]

I see the 4th generation leaders are mostly yes man .

[DCMotor]

Originally Posted by VirgilvanDijk4

So what if he is from humble background ? As somebody had already pointed out what has he contributed to the Singapore society and to his fellow Singaporeans ? Furthermore heard he was an ex-army general .

No need contribution, part of the famiLEE can already

[sharklaserscom]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/...months-9818850

SINGAPORE: Electricity tariffs will increase by an average of 6.3 per cent of 1.26 cents per kWh from Jan 1 to Mar 31, 2018 compared with the previous quarter, SP Group announced on Friday (Dec 29) n a media release.

SP Group attributed the increase to “the higher cost of natural gas for electricity generation, which increased by 14 per cent compared to the previous quarter”.


https://sg.news.yahoo.com/electricit...071317587.html

[skyleon]

Five political hot potatoes of 2017

PUBLISHED 4 HOURS AGO
Joanna Seow


1. COUNTING THE COST OF LOOMING TAX HIKES

Public debate over government spending was stirred last month after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong signalled an impending tax hike.

Speaking at the People's Action Party annual convention, he had noted that investments and social spending are costly, and forewarned that "raising taxes is not a matter of whether, but a matter of when".

While there are no details yet as to which tax may be raised, or by how much, some analysts have suggested that the goods and services tax (GST), which is now 7 per cent, could be raised to 8 to 10 per cent.

There has also been speculation that while the announcement for the hike may be made by the next Budget, it may take effect only later, such as after the next general election, which is due by 2021.

At a dialogue earlier this month organised by government feedback arm Reach and the Finance Ministry to discuss the upcoming Budget, Reach chairman and Minister of State for Manpower Sam Tan said that the Government does not take decisions on tax increases lightly, because such hikes come with a very high political cost.

"But if we have to raise it, that is because the reason is stronger than the political cost," he said.

Political observers tell Insight the ruling party has a degree of latitude as to when to introduce the increases, since the next election is not due yet - and revenues are sufficient for this term of government.

But people may call on the Government to be more transparent about how much money is exactly needed to prevent a deficit in future Budgets.

Full-time investor Vincent Tay, for example, says it is hard to argue against the logic of raising taxes, "but we don't know the full picture".

The 35-year-old father of three, with another child on the way, says he will have to bite the bullet and try to make more money to cope with the higher costs.

Looking ahead, Associate Professor Bilveer Singh of the National University of Singapore says he expects the cost of living to be a major political issue next year, due to the uneven distribution of wealth and economic uncertainties.

While the Government has managed the cost of living issue through packages to help the lower-income group, the middle class is feeling squeezed - and this is a key group politically, he notes.

"Anywhere in the world, once you lose this group - and it is usually through economic policies and costs of basic essentials - then the political price will have to be paid," he says.

Deciding on the quantum of the tax hike will also involve treading a fine balance.

Increasing GST by 1 percentage point, for instance, may not be worth the political effort, notes Dr Lam Peng Er, a senior research fellow at the East Asian Institute.

Nominated MP Randolph Tan, an economist at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, adds that people may question the need for a tax hike when a major economy like the United States can appear to afford to do the opposite.

continue reading here : http://www.straitstimes.com/politics...tatoes-of-2017

[skyleon]

Originally Posted by stardawn

As the year draws a close . One can look back at 2017 and realise that Singapore is indeed an exciting place to live in . Why is that so ?


1) the Oxleygate affair . The whole matter blew up in the open when the younger Lee siblings took to social media and voice their greviances against their elder bro and his wife . We also learn that the Singapore PM is not a trustee of his father's estate. We all know what his father wants to do to the Oxley house . The situation became so bad that the current Singapore PM took to parliament to defend himself . Till date the Lee sibilings are not talking to each other .

2 ) Water price increase .
The impending water price hike caused a lot of anger and resentment among the Singaporeans . But despite that the water price increase still go ahead.

3) Presidential election .
For the first time in Singapore presidential history a woman was selected to be the Singapore's first Malay President . However the process of the selecting is highly flawed as it certainly benefits her . Surprising the other 2 presidential candidates were better qualified than her were disqualified .

4) Mrt disruptions
There is an undeniable fact that the mrt disruption seemed to increase under the honourable Mr khaw tenure . The worse one was the tunnel flooding , train collision at Joo Koon resulting 38 passengers injured ; and of course the lightning strike . First time after the tunnel flooding we saw Mr khaw and SMRT chairman apologising to the public and they vowed they will improve the services of the mrt .

Looks like somebody is reading your post .

[jacky43]

Mdm President first countdown to 2018. A wet 2018, and back into 53 yrs ago this country is blessed by our ancestors.

We shall see again next year.

[skyleon]

Police have to exercise discretion, make exceptions on occasion: SPF on double yellow line issue

The authorities were responding to a letter about the lack of summons issued for cars belonging to President Halimah Yacob's convoy that were waiting along double yellow lines earlier this month.

31 Dec 2017 03:22PM (Updated: 31 Dec 2017 03:55PM)


SINGAPORE: Police officers will seek to observe traffic rules and regulations but there will be occasions when they may have to exercise their discretion and make exceptions, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said on Saturday (Dec 30).

This was in response to a letter published in Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao about the lack of summons issued for cars belonging to President Halimah Yacob's convoy that were waiting along double yellow lines earlier this month.


The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SPF had earlier said in a joint statement that an LTA enforcement officer was conducting his routine patrol along Prinsep Street on Dec 20 when he noticed two vehicles waiting along a stretch marked with double yellow lines.

The officer approached the vehicle to ask the driver to drive off, and the driver informed the LTA enforcement officer that he was there to pick up the President who was leaving the place. In the midst of the conversation, the President arrived and the driver drove off. No summons were issued, the authorities said.

The author of the letter in Lianhe Zaobao, Long Jidong, wrote that the officers did not abide by traffic regulations and said they should have been punished.

"It is against the law to park double yellow lines to obstruct traffic. Drivers of public sector vehicles should set an example by not stopping on the double yellow line," he wrote in the letter, which was published on Thursday.

In their response on Saturday, SPF said official vehicles may need to be in close proximity to the event location for security reasons and to facilitate quick evacuation.

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...casion-9823036

[NotMyPresident]

Originally Posted by jacky43

Mdm President first countdown to 2018. A wet 2018, and back into 53 yrs ago this country is blessed by our ancestors.

We shall see again next year.

The heavens have spoken .

[c8mt]

Originally Posted by jacky43

Mdm President first countdown to 2018. A wet 2018, and back into 53 yrs ago this country is blessed by our ancestors.

We shall see again next year.

Next year will be thunder and lightning ?

[skyleon]

2017 was a year of laughters

January 1, 2018



Yes, minnows do make it to a cover. Talking points to the spread. Tan Chuan-Jin : Speaker of Parliament, was this a demotion? Josephine Teo : takes a small space to make babies. Desmond Lee : young lawyer who chairs family matters.

The Lee Debacle : The Most Impactful Event

June 14. Singaporeans of all walks of life were shell shocked. LSL’s siblings, LSY and LWL, posted a 6-page statement : “What has happened to LKY’s values?” Added, that they have “lost confidence “ in their brother and they “ do not trust him.”

The statement was online at a soft moment – LSL was on holidays. However, within the day, LSL responded, on these accusations : Denied the allegations and expressed disappointment that his siblings chose to publicise a private family affair.

Home in Singapore, past events and unsettled details unfolded fast and furious. Rebuttals of the allegations were made within hours of the assertions. We were all riveted to our seats. Coffee shop talk was abuzz.

The heat was on the last will, the insertion of the demolition clause, a Deed of Gift to the National Heritage Board, Ho Ching, having no official appointment, acted beyond her call, the secret Ministerial Committee on 38 Oxley Road, the Ministerial Statement and the Parliamentary debates, the assertion on the abuse of power. And so on.

Part 1 concluded with LSY and LSF leaving Singapore for Hong Kong, indefinitely, and that AG is looking into Li Shengwu’s facebook account, to friends.

Yet, none of our no.1 family members made it to the cover. To add insult to injury, a distraction was created. Smacked in the middle : 38 Oxley Road.

SMRT Disruptions : The Most Telling Event.

Our MRT is very sick. For months. One big happening after another.


continue reading here : http://www.theindependent.sg/2017-wa...-of-laughters/

[SiaSuay]

Originally Posted by stardawn

As the year draws a close . One can look back at 2017 and realise that Singapore is indeed an exciting place to live in . Why is that so ?


1) the Oxleygate affair . The whole matter blew up in the open when the younger Lee siblings took to social media and voice their greviances against their elder bro and his wife . We also learn that the Singapore PM is not a trustee of his father's estate. We all know what his father wants to do to the Oxley house . The situation became so bad that the current Singapore PM took to parliament to defend himself . Till date the Lee sibilings are not talking to each other .

2 ) Water price increase .
The impending water price hike caused a lot of anger and resentment among the Singaporeans . But despite that the water price increase still go ahead.

3) Presidential election .
For the first time in Singapore presidential history a woman was selected to be the Singapore's first Malay President . However the process of the selecting is highly flawed as it certainly benefits her . Surprising the other 2 presidential candidates were better qualified than her were disqualified .

4) Mrt disruptions
There is an undeniable fact that the mrt disruption seemed to increase under the honourable Mr khaw tenure . The worse one was the tunnel flooding , train collision at Joo Koon resulting 38 passengers injured ; and of course the lightning strike . First time after the tunnel flooding we saw Mr khaw and SMRT chairman apologising to the public and they vowed they will improve the services of the mrt .

5) Singapore saw the introduction of shared bicycles . However many cases of abuse and indiscriminately parking .

6) lift breakdowns in HDB towns
Despite the new regime of lift maintenance residents are still faced with such issues . Even new towns are not spared .

7) Water pipes bursting everywhere .

Don't forget to include this :

8 ) SAF Terrex detained by Hong Kong Customs .

9 ) SAF servers got hacked .

[Woodburn1745]

Originally Posted by VirgilvanDijk4

No must now instead ask the President who will be next PM .

Ask which President ? KelongPresident or NotMyPresident ?

[VirgilvanDijk4]

Originally Posted by Woodburn1745

Ask which President ? KelongPresident or NotMyPresident ?

Must ask that one who is now in Istana house .

[DevanHartono]

Originally Posted by VirgilvanDijk4

Must ask that one who is now in Istana house .

Oh that fuckable blueblackface .

[skyleon]

4G ministers say they will settle on a leader 'in good time'; Ong Ye Kung says he has someone in mind


Published 3 hours ago

Updated 32 min ago


Tham Yuen-C

Assistant Political Editor

Seow Bei Yi

Elgin Toh

Insight Editor


SINGAPORE - At least one of the top three contenders to become Singapore's fourth prime minister already has someone in mind for the job - and it does not appear to be himself.

Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung said in an interview with The Straits Times earlier this week: "I am shaping up in my mind someone who can be the leader amongst us. I am sure my colleagues are thinking of the same issue too."

He declined to name the person he had in mind. On whether the ministers can pick themselves, he said "that doesn't sound like it is in the right spirit", adding that he did not know what the convention was as it is his first time taking part in the process.

Mr Ong, 48, is among a trio of ministers who are tipped to be in contention for the job. The other two are Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, 56, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing, 48.

Political observers approached said Mr Ong is still in the race despite saying he has someone in mind.

They said while he may well nominate someone else, others in his cohort can still pick him, adding it is still too early to rule out any of the three front-runners.

When asked how he decided on the person he intends to support, Mr Ong said he had taken into account the person's conviction and ability to drive long-term, important policy, as well as public and party support for the person.

On Thursday (Jan 4), the fourth-generation ministers said in a statement that they will choose a leader "in good time".

"Political stability has been the hallmark of Singapore and smooth leadership succession has instilled confidence among Singaporeans and our friends around the world.

"The younger ministers are keenly aware that leadership succession is a pressing issue and that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong intends to step down after the next general election. We are conscious of our responsibility, are working closely together as a team, and will settle on a leader from among us in good time."

The statement was signed in alphabetical order by a group of 16 Cabinet ministers and office holders.



continue reading here : http://www.straitstimes.com/politics...he-has-someone


The next PM will only be a yes man and another seat warmer .